Trunnion bearing feeder

ABSTRACT

A trunnion bearing feeder is disclosed in conjunction with a rotary cone type feeder in which trunnion bearings or other parts having a long, cylindrical body and a pair of extensions at each end are to be fed into a tubular magazine at high rates of feed. A pick up tube is positioned within the bowl at its periphery tangential therewith, and downstream from the tube an adjustable venturi is provided which accomplishes the two-fold purpose of providing a vacuum to withdraw jammed parts into the pick up tube, and thereafter pressure feed the same into a delivery tube or magazine for further processing of the oriented parts. The venturi is a conical member which is threadedly engaged into a block having a conical recess whereby upon rotation of the threaded parts the venturi effort may be adjusted.

United States Patent 11 1 Schultz [451 Feb. 25,1975

[54] TRUNNION BEARING FEEDER 3,702,663 11/1972 Joele 221/167 [75] Inventor: George E. Schultz, Clearwater, Fla. Primary Examiner Evn C. Blunk [73] Assignee: Tangen Drives, Inc., Clearwater, Assistant Examiner-W. Scott Carson Fla. Attorney, Agent, or FirmDominik, Knechtel, Godula 22 Filed: Apr. 23, 1973 Dame [21] Appl. N0.: 353,299 [57] ABSTRACT A trunnion bearing feeder is disclosed in conjunction [52] U.S. Cl 302/2 R, 221/278, 302/25 with a rotary cone type feeder in which trunnion bear- [51] Int. Cl. 365g 51/02 ings or other parts having a long, cylindrical body and [58] Field of Search 221/167, 168, 278; a pair of extensions at each end are to be fed into a 302/2 R, 21, 24, 25 tubular magazine at high rates of feed. A pick up tube is positioned within the bowl at its periphery tangen- [56] References Cited tial therewith, and downstream from the tube an ad: UNITED STATES PATENTS justable venturi is provided which accomplishes the 1,943,451 1/1934 Needham 302/25 x i of provldmg a vacuum withdraw 2888 169 /1959 l-lausman etal. 221/167 Jammed Parts the tube and thereafter 2,9931737 7/1961 Stephen 302/2 R Pressure feed the Same into a delivery tube or maga- 3,017,025 1/1962 Stephen 302/2 R X Zine for further Processing of the Oriented P The 3,021,980 2/1962 Gladfelter et al 221/167 venturi is a conical member which is threadedly en- 3,169,662 2/1965 Goran 221/278 X gaged into a block having a conical recess whereby 3172.7 3/l96 Burke 302/2 upon rotation of the threaded parts the V6l1tU1'i:6ffO1't 3,343,885 9/1967 Lundcberg..... 221/278 X may be adjusted 3,382,010 5/l968 W1lkmson 302/2 R 3,672,727 6/1972 Griffin 302/2 R 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures I ll 12 13 I9 1 2 lo I? 3 0 l 3 1 l 23\\ 25 3o 31 28 I8 35 l Lira 0 Q \IV -Ia "f A TRUNNION BEARING FEEDER BACKGROUND 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates primarily to the feeding of trunnion bearings, but for purposes of this application the same is intended to be used as a short hand definition of parts having an elongate cylindric body, and cylindrical or pin-like extensions from each end of the body. The feeder employed is a rotary conical feeder of the character shown in US. Pat. No. 3,658,207, marketed by applicant's assignee under the trademark CENTRIFEED manufactured by Tangen Drives,'lnc. of Clearwater, Fla.

2. Prior Art I Heretofore trunnion bearings of the character contemplated by the present invention have been fed by vibratory feeders such as those exemplified in US. Pat. 1

No. 2,609,914, the same being fed at rates of feed between 100 and 300 per minute. A typical trunnion bearing of the character contemplated by the present invention will have a diameter between 0.078 inch and.

0.098 inch and the length may typically vary between one-half and 1 inch. The invention is not intended to be limited to the particular size just described, the same being set forth for purposes of illustration of the prob lem and the solution which is achieved by a feeder made in accordance with the present invention.

SUMMARY The invention relates to a rotary cone type feeder with a peripheral delivery tube or pick up tube in which i the interior diameter is somewhat larger than the diameter of the cylindrical body being fed. ln'order to separate the trunnion bearings which may become jammed by their adjacent end extensions being overlapped, a vacuum is provided downstream of the bowl tube portion to accelerate the leading one of the jammed parts.

In addition to provide a vacuum, a venturi construction is employed in which the downstream effort through the delivery tube is one of pressure. The delivery tube is ideally proportioned so that its inside diameter is sufficiently proximate to the outside diameter of the part being fed that overlap of the end extension is not possible. The method of the invention contemplates the feeding of trunnion bearings in which a vacuum is employed to overcome any overlapping jamming at the initial point in the delivery to a pick up tube, and thereafl delivery tube permits a positive feed pressure for subsequent processing of the trunnion bearings. Typically the same are being fed to a centerless grinder for high which serves the two-fold purpose of removingjammed feeder illustrated in FIG. 1, partially broken, and in parts from the pick up tube, and providing positive feed pressureat the delivery tube.

Still another object of the present invention looks to the construction and method of feeding trunnion bearings in which the same can be adapted for a wide variety of trunnion bearing diameters, lengths, and end extension variables.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description of an illustrative embodiment proceeds, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view, partially sectioned and partially broken, of a rotary cone feeder employing the trunnion bearing feeder assembly illustrative of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the trunnion bearing the same scale as FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged broken transverse sectional view of the side wall of the sujbect feeder taken along section line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partially sectioned, view of the pick up portion of the bowl tube pick up illustrating how two sequentially fed trunnion bearings may overlap at the point of ingress into the tube.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For a full understanding of the present invention, reference is initially made to FIG. 4 of the drawings which illustrates a typical trunnion bearing 1 having an elongate cylindrical body portion 2 terminating in a pair of ends 3 which are generally cylindrical with a diameter significantly less than that of the body portion 2. Such trunnion bearings may have a diameter of 0.078 inch to 0.098 inch. The initial pick up point at the bowl tube the tapered tit 35 at the end of the tube 18. The second r trunnion bearing 1 is about to enter through the taper ter an additional plusfactor of pressure feeding into a.

fit 35 of the tube 18, but because the second trunnion bearing 1 has not fully entered into the tube 18, its lead end 3 has overlapped the trailing end 3 of the first trunnion bearing 1. Under these circumstances, absent any assistance, a jam occurs at thevery beginning of the feeding action, and the trailing trunnion bearing 1 must be removed manually. The method and apparatus of the present invention recognizes that by applying a vacuum downstream of the tube 18 and the taper fit 35, the lead trunnion bearing 1 can be separated and accelerated into an ultimate delivery tube 26 by means of a vacuum whichwill break up the jamming tendency, and also separate the trunnion bearings 1 from end-toend contact until the same can be confined in a delivery tube 26 of sufficient closetolerance so that the trunnion bearings 1 can pass in contact with each end 3 contacting the next end 3, and not having enough tolerance to overlap and jam as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Turning now to FIG. 1, it will seen that a trunnion bearing feeder 10 is shown in part which has a conical non shown in FlGL l willnotoceur.

' liveryftubelzo p r r l a g Theventuri assembly'ZQ'is fedby means of a typical I air lineZiwith a normalsour ce ofshop air quite often 7 v rotor 11 at its centralportion; terminating in a rather thick side wall 12 lined by awear wall'14. Asfshown in FIG. 3, th e periphery of therotor 11 is provided with t apart reservoir 13 which is a shallow annular recess "around theperiphery of therotor llmThe part reservoir 13; terminates at its outer'edge portion in, apartnest or] J notch '17. Aswill be seen in FlGi 3, thetrunnion hear I I ing l alignsitself in thepart nestylflland is; confined 1' therein bycontactwith the wear wall 14;,of the side wall To pick up 7 i I the trunnionf'bearingsl, the side wall' l l' is bored in orderto receive abowladapter l5,'-interiorlyof which is a pick up tube 16 which extends on e 9 both sides of the bowl adapter 15, terminating atitsL' inner end portionin a bowl tube portion 18*of the pick uptube 16 which ismodified at itsfar'end with a tapery a The venturi assemblyZiO includes the venturiadapter 2s and the venturi block 23am illustrated in no.1; V the venturiblock 23 hasa central bore 25 which isfpeni etrated by the delivery tube2 6. As pointed out above,

a fit 35 as shown'iri FIG. 4. Clamping jaws 29*are pro- 'vided at the outside portion of the'bowliadapter in, forder to secure the tube portions 16, 18 in their proper, longitudinal relationship'with the partnestll: of the rotor 11, and the venturi assembly "20. lnordertoao celerate and agitate the trunnion bearings 1 within the feeder l0, spaced kickers19 are securedto the upper a face of the rotor 11, as shown'in FIG. 1. Y

' come jammed asfeedihgheginsL: g g 7 7 7 Thus. it will:;beseenin reviewtthat both an apparatus theidelivery tube 26 has aninside di arneter with a very close fit to the outside diameter of, the body '2 of the trunnion bearing 1 so that once the trunnionbearing l enters the delivery tube 26; the overlapping configure The venturiadapter 28 has a venturi I g eon som lfSffElf end with a venturi thread Q3131 its periphery. A'corre' tube 26 under pressureiof theiair passing through the 1 annular 'eonical gap '32" between the venturibohe 30 and the venturi bore zspr the venturi,bloeks23. T wo-r 7 fold adjustment ispro idedby nieansofme airline reg" 1ulator;22 from the sourcevof shop air through the air line 21, andgbymeansof rthe threaded adjustment ofithe I, a

venturi'conefill withregardltofthe,vetiturib re'ZS of t ivm r -i a22 :1;xa, a

- 7 The method otjfeedingtrunnio; ibearingsl of the characterdefinedhere anduaboveeomprises basicallyf f M thesteps of delivering the same withapressure feed to it a tube exceeding the diameterof the body Zofthe trun-t f nion bearing 1 by a'small tolerance Aivacuuni' is pro vided downstreaminthe tu be in order to sucheach andamethodiis provideclfor feedingtrunnionbearings V lof the charactereonteniplated bythe present inven tion, "each of whichflooks to the principal object or i a i avoiding jamming; and proyiding a positive feed pres-1 Spondingflthread is provided "interior of the venturifl venturi 20 downstream block 23'sothatthe venturicone 30 can be'adjustably nested within the venturiblock 23 toprovide an annua larconical gap 32 0f adjustable thickness, thereby ad;

,, justing the extent of the vacuum effetztfupstream of the f venturi assembly 20, and; correspondingly diminishing p the pressure effect of'the venturi 20downstrearn of thel ofthelyenturi c0ne30inthede ninety pounds per square inch or less/A regulator22 isprovided; between'the airj line 21, a nd therdown f I streamqtittings24 which connectfto ithe'venturi pipe, I 4 "lead- 34 which, in turn,-fee'dstheannularconial gapf32 r t within the venturi bloclg2 3.-

To physically position "the venturi may 2M regard to the feeder 10, the bowl adapter 15 is inserted I through the side wall opening 36 in the side wall 12 as illustrated in FIG. 2'. In tracing the path of the trunnion bearing 1, it will be seen that the same is impelled by the rotor 11 into the reservoir l3,and then rises into the part nest 17 at the periphery of the rotor 11 and rides against the wear'wall l4 ofthe outer wall l2tofthe feeder 10. The part passes through thetaper titatq a'point ol' tangency along thc wear wall 14, and-then enters the bowl tube portion 18 of the pickup tube 16 r a i and is impelled hy the vacuum generated by the venturi assembly 20 through the venturi adapter 28.:At this pointthe part leaves the pick up tube 16 and enters the part bore portion 40 of the venturi cone 30; At the far end of the venturi cone 30, the part enters the delivery ,ftion; 3

sure atthefdelivery point at,;very highlfeed-rates; V Although particular embodiments of the invention havebeenishown anddeseribed in full hermthet'eisho'fl Y g initiflilol'ltOihfllQbYlllIlfitIhfi invention to the fdetailsof '4? such embodirnents Onthelcontrary the intention is to; i

cover all modifications}alternatives; embodiments, us-

'agesandequivalentsof atrunniontbearingifeederfand V 'methodasfall withinlthe.spiritandgseope-of theinyen f] j I tion, speoificationjandth appendedclaims? l What is claimed is a lt'er tn ttw a Qaifee'der havingasidewall, I

' ther conveying from said periphery, i pick-uptube means tangentially aligned along a 1 portion of the periphery of said'feeder and in communication with said nesting means, 7 r i an adapter bracketprovidedsin the side wall of said feeder, having clamping means for securing said pick-up tube-means in longitudinal relationshipwithsaid feeder and with said nestingmeanse 7 said adapter bracket," j a tube means and in closed communication therer V withto provide negative pressure within saidpickup tube means'and positivepre'ssure downstream of said picks-up tube means, I I

compris gincornbina i.

v -fthe interior ofsaid 'feederzh'aving nesting means at; i

i ap r h y wii s a iw ti sa s 't w ll r I "aligningtrunnionbearings inendtoend singlefile Q r I L orientation;saidteeder having means forimpartingu tmo vementto said trunnion'bearings positioned I therein to advance 's aidtrunnionbearingsforfur=--- #1 a said pick up tube means extending outwardly from t a a venturi proyided downstream of saidpick-up said venturi operationally functioning to introduce the trunnion bearings into said pick-up tube means in single and spaced relation oneto the other and to draw the same into and throughsaid venturi and to accelerate the same under positive pressure further downstream of said pick-up tube means in a continuous and uninterupted flowpath.

2. The trunnion bearing feeder asset forth in claim 1 above, wherein said venturi comprises a conical member adjustably engaging a venturi block having a conical recess for receiving the same, means for adjust ing the gap between the conical member and the conimeans are led into the pick-up tube. 

1. A trunnion bearing feeder comprising in combination, - a feeder having a side wall, - the interior of said feeder having nesting means at its periphery cooperating with said side wall for aligning trunnion bearings in end to end single file orientation, said feeder having means for imparting movement to said trunnion bearings positioned therein to advance said trunnion bearings for further conveying from said periphery, - pick-up tube means tangentially aligned along a portion of the periphery of said feeder and in communication with said nesting means, - an adapter bracket provided in the side wall of said feeder having clamping means for securing said pick-up tube means in longitudinal relationship with said feeder and with said nesting means, - said pick-up tube means extending outwardly from said adapter bracket, - a venturi provided downstream of said pick-up tube means and in closed communication therewith to provide negative pressure within said pick-up tube means and positive pressure downstream of said pick-up tube means, - said venturi operationally functioning to introduce the trunnion bearings into said pick-up tube means in single and spaced relation one to the other and to draw the same into and through said venturi and to accelerate the same under positive pressure further downstream of said pick-up tube means in a continuous and uninterupted flow path.
 2. The trunnion bearing feeder as set forth in claim 1 above, wherein said venturi comprises a conical member adjustably engaging a venturi block having a conical recess for receiving the same, means for adjusting the gap between the conical member and the conical receiving portion of the block, whereby the extent of the negative and positive pressure may be regulated by the positioning of the venturi cone and adjusting the angular side wall spacing.
 3. The trunnion bearing feeder as set forth in claim 1 above, which further includes a tapered wall at the inlet portion of the pick-up tube means and forming substantially to the interior configuration of the side wall of the feeder, whereby the parts in the peripheral portion of the feeder and oriented within the nesting means are led into the pick-up tube. 